Russian navy announces plan to boost eastern Mediterranean naval force
Iran Press TV
Fri Sep 13, 2013 8:56AM GMT
Russia's Navy Commander Admiral Viktor Chirkov has announced plans to build up Russian naval presence in the Mediterranean Sea near Syrian coastal waters to as many as ten battleships.
"The task is crystal clear: to avoid a slightest threat to the security of the state. This is a general practice of all fleets around the world, to be there when a tension level increases. They are all going to act on operational command plan of the offshore maritime zone," Chirkov said on Friday, as cited in an RT report.
"Russia will be building up its Mediterranean fleet until it is deemed sufficient to perform the task set," the Russian Navy commander stated.
He also said that over 80 Russian warships and naval support vessels are currently in ocean waters across the world near coastlines.
"In time of peace Navy's duty and main application is military service, constant naval presence in the zones of military-political tension where interests of the Russian Federation are concentrated," Chirkov added.
Russia, according to the report, began its military build-up in the Mediterranean Sea in 2012 and has engaged in maintaining a steady naval presence in the eastern portion of the Mediterranean since last December.
All Russian battleships operating in the tense region were assigned to a "single task force" in May under special offshore maritime zone operation command, the report adds.
The Russian Navy has so far deployed seven warships in the Mediterranean Sea, including landing craft carriers Aleksandr Shabalin, Admiral Nevelskoy, Peresvet, Novocherkassk and Minsk from its Black and Baltic Sea Fleets, as well as the escort vessel Neustrashimy, and anti-submarine battleship Admiral Panteleyev.
Recent reports further indicate that Russia's missile cruiser Moskva also passed the Straits of Gibraltar on September 10 and is expected to arrive at its final destination in eastern Mediterranean by September 16.
Moreover, the Navy's SSV-201 reconnaissance ship Priazovye reportedly joined the eastern Mediterranean Fleet earlier in September.
The development comes following recent threats of an attack on Syria by the United States and a number of its NATO and Arab allies in the region.
The rhetoric of war against Syria first gained momentum on August 21, when the militants operating inside the country and the foreign-backed Syrian opposition claimed that over a thousand people had been killed in a government chemical attack on militant strongholds on the outskirts of Damascus.
The Syrian government categorically rejects the allegation and says the militants carried out the attack to draw in military intervention.
MFB/HSN
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